Hinged awning structure



Jan. 6, 1959 F. S. BRENNAN ETAL HINGED AWNING STRUCTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 20, 1955 m m www@ m wn i n l. A mda www .C .ww/JW mslm eme ,pal/.MM 55H@ w w www W F. s. BRENNAN ETAL 2,867,273

HINGED AwNING STRUCTURE janl 6, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 2o, 1955 lmmmmumwum YIIIIIIIIAVIIIIIIII4 VIII', I Ylllrl 9 INVENTORS ederz cfrezfzan,

fr/'est #Hudson g5( BY /foberz JComsidin/e @M @mm Jan- 6, 1959 F. s. BRENNAN ETAL 2,867,273

HINGED AWNING STRUCTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 20, 1955 w mm ,i .un H unfo t@ $46 mr H w M gt/fnfggmms Jam 5 1959 F. s. BRENNAN ETAL HINGED AwNING STRUCTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 20, 1955 IQIIL YIIIII INVENTORS re/zm/z,

Robert Cozza dz'n e M ATTORNEYS United States Patent@ f HIN GED AWNING STRUCTURE Frederick S. Brennan, Evanston, Ill., Forrest H. Hudson, Tucker, Ga and Robert J. Considine, Encinitas, Calif., assignors to Ray--Lite Corp. of America, Atlanta, Ga., a corporation of Georgia Application .luly 20, 1955, Serial No. 523,222 Claims. (Cl. 16o-58) Our invention is directed to improvements in hinged awning structure and particularly to an awning having a roof and hinged wings, the edges of which are enclosed by moldings.

It is an object of our invention to provide an awning which is easily attachable and detachable from over a window or doorway and which has hinged wing sections.

A further object of our invention is to provide a roof section for an awning which has all four sides enclosed by a molding so as to provide both a trim appearance inside and out.

Another object of our invention is to provide in an awning a roof having an upper edge which is enclosed by a molding that is a part of a two-part hinge, the other part of which is attached to the building structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide hinged Wing sections which are attached by concealed hinges to the side moldings of the roof panel and which may be hinged inward for detaching the awning and storing the same.

A still further object of our invention is to provide wing sections which are generally triangular in shape and enclosed on their top and bottom by mold pieces such that a minimum number of screws and bolts appear.

Another object of the invention is to provide in the fabrication of the wing sections a bottom mold piece of generally U-shape cross-section which receives the bottom end of a plurality of louvered panels forming the wing section and having the upper ends of the panels connected to a fastener strip which is concealed within a top mold of U-shape cross-section slipped thereover.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a hinged type of awning which has a hinge at its upper edge, two hinged wing sections which are adapted to be detachably secured at their lower rear ends to the building structure, all of which structure provides for quick and emergency removal of the awning.

Another object of our invention is to provide an awning with a top panel of stepped construction and having wing or end pieces which have vertically extending louvers therein which appear as stepped construction similar to the stepped top panel.

Still further objects of the invention are to provide an awning having a pleasing appearance when viewed from either the inside and outside thereof, is easily fabricated, is rust-proof, is light in weight, may be installed by one person, has a relatively minimum number of fastening screws and a minimum number of exposed fastening screws or elements.

Still further objects and the entire scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter.

It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and speciiic example is given by way of illustration only, and, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, is not given by way of limitation, since various changes and modifications within the ICC d spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

Figure 1 is a perspective front View of the awning in place;

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view looking into the rear of the awning with the right-hand Wing shown in broken lines in a hinged-in position;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional elevation view along line 3 3 of Figure 2 with the broken lines indicating the hinged positions of the awning and side wing;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the upper end of the roof attached to its hinged molding as viewed along section line 4 4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view along line 5 5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a sectional View along line 6 6 of Figure 4 on an enlarged scale showing the hinged connection for the side wing to the side molding of the roof;

Figure 7 is a sectional view along line 7 7 of Figure 6 showing the hinged connection to the side molding of the roof of the awning;

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional View along line 8 8 of Figure 2 showing the bottom edge of the wing panel and its molding and how it is secured to the building;

Figure 9 is a sectional view along line 9 9 of Figure 8 showing the louvered side panels secured in their bottom, molding; and

Figure 10 is a sectional view along line 10 1ll of Figure 3 Vshowing the corner joint -of the wing panel where the bottom molding joins the top molding.-

Throughout the description and different figures like reference numerals refer to similar parts.

The awning generally indicated at 1li is comprised of a top or roof generally indicated at 11, right and left wing sections 12 and 13, and a wall hinge molding generally indicated at 14. In Figure 1 the awning 10 is shown installed on a window frame 15 of a building. These awnings may be made in different lengths and may be likewise used as doorway awnings.

The roof section 11 in the illustration shown uses as its panel 16 stepped fiberglass material as shown in Figure 3 which comes in sheets and is cut to the proper size for the particular awning. The lower edge of panel 16 is cut adjacent one of the steps 16 as indicated in Figure 5 and is received within a specially shaped front edge mold 17. Mold 17 is generally U-shape in cross-section with a recessed end bight portion 18, and inner leg 19 having a transverse end portion 2li, and an end-turned angularly disposed flange 21 which supports and abuts the bottom surface of the reach portion 16" of panel 16, a second leg 22 having a bent-in outer end 22 which rests against the outer side of the rea-ch portion 16 of the roof sheet 16. Continuing with the construction of the roof section 11, there is slipped over each side edge of panel 16 a right and a left U-shape mold 24 and 25, respectively, which are shown in cross-section in Figure 6. These side molds 24 and 25 have a recessed bight portion 26, a leg 27 having an end-turned front end 27', a second leg 28 having an end-turned liange 28 at its end against which the lower portion of the step 16 rests as sho-wn in Figure 4.

Referring back to Figure 5, the flange 27 of side mold 24 is notched at 28 to receive the leg 19 of front mold 17 such that the front mold 17 is received within the legs 27 and 28 of the side mold 24 and secured at the corner by a round headed bolt 29 which also passes through a suitable aperture formed in the corner of the sheet 16 and is secured by a nut 29.

Reference to Figure 4 shows that the upper or top edge of the panel 16 is received by the bifurcated end of Va hinge member 3l) which is a portion of the hinge assembly generally indicated at 14. Hinge portion 30 is an Patented Jan. 6, 19159` over slightly and that the outer portion 34' of lower main portion 34 is offset outwardly except for its turnedin extreme end 34" so that the upper edge of the panel is easily received therebetween and at the extreme ends of this hinge piece 30 a round headed bolt 35 yhaving a nut 35 ysecures the upper end ofthe sides 24 and 25 to the hinge portion 30 thereby forming a rigid roo-f or top panel. In this construction the entire outer edge along the `four sides of the roof panel 16 is enclosed andno rough or bare edge is exposed. In 4the construction of the side pieces 24 and 25 the outer ends are bent on a radius of about 8 inches which is the same radius for the lower mold portion 45 of the side wings as will be explained hereinafter. The upper or rear portion of the lower main portion 34 of hinge member 30 is formed with a downwardly offset elongated sector cut out portion 37 therein so as to provide for drainage and expansion of any frozen water should there be any entrained in the hinge joint. The other portion of the hinge generally indicated at 14 at the ridge of the roof is an aluminum extrusion member 38 having a cross-section of a general configuration of the letter with a vertical leg 39 apertured to receive a screw 40 which secures the leg and member 38 to the door casing 15. Like screws 40 are placed in suitable spaced-apart apertures in this vertical leg portion- 39. Formed integral with the upper edge of the vertical leg portion 39 is an arcuate cap 41 and extendingl up at an obtuse angle from the outer edge of this cap 41 is a roof section 42 having a horizontally disposed cap 43 at its upper end which extends back to the window casing or door casing 15. As an integral portion of the main portion 39 of this hinge member 38 is a semi-circular bottom 43 within which is received the elongated cylindrical portion 36 of hinge portion 30. To complete the installation of the hinge generally indicated at 14 in the final installation, suitable end caps 44 as shown in Figure 1 are attached at the end of the hinge portion 38. To assemble the roof section 11 in the hinge portion 3S, it is merely necessary to position the roof section in a vertical manner and insert the hinge portion 30 so that the elongated cylindrical portion 36 is moved inward towards the building and downward into the semi-circular portion 43 of hinge member 33 aflxed to the top of the window casing 15 and then swing out or hinge out the roof section 11 and swing down the side panels 12 as will hereinafter be explained.

Referring back to Figure 4, it will be noted that in the fabrication of the roof section 11 the upper ends of the side molds 24 and 25 are cut at an angle as indicated at 24 at the upper end so that when the awning is hinged out, the end 24 will for the particular awning portion extend vertically.

The right and left-hand wings 12 and 13 are assembled in a similar manner and only right-hand wing section 12 will be described.

Reference to Figures l and 3 shows that the wing sections are formed with bottom molds 45 which are of like cross-sectional conguration to the side molds 24 and 25 for the roof section 11 and the top molds 46 are also of like cross-sectional configuration to the side molds 24 and 25 for the roof section. The side wings 12 and 13 are attached so that the upper edge or mold 46 is in spaced relation to the'roof section 11 and hingedly thereto connected by means of concealed hinges 57 positioned toward the upper and lower ends of the top mold 46 of the side panels.

`In fabricating the side panels reference to Figure 8 shows that the side panel is made up of a plurality of spaced-apart louvered panels 49 which are cut lfrom the same fiberglass sheet material as that from which the roof 16 of step construction is made. As a matter of fact, scrap material may be used in making up the louvered sections 49. Note in Figure 8 that the step portions 49 and the small reach portions 49" overlap the adjacent edge of the main portion of the louvered section which is attached within the upstanding lower mold 45 i adjacent the leg 27 thereof by means of metal screws 50 after suitably spaced-apart holes are` boredV in the vleg 27 and through the lower ends of the vertical louvered sections 49. An extruded U-shape Clip 51 is attachedto the window frame 15 as by means vof a screw 52 and into this U-shapebracket or clip 51 there isreeeived the rear end of the bottom mold 45 when the awning is swung down into its installed position as shown in Figures l t and 3. This permits for easy installation and removal of the awning. While securing screws have not been shown as pass-ing through the clips or brackets 51 and the ends of the lower molds 45 of the wing panels 12, these may be installed if necessary but thefriction fitseems to be sufficient and permits for ready removal of the awning in case of emergency. In some `cities and municipalities this is important as certain ordinances require that'the awnings be readily removable from window such as might be necessary in case of lire -so that ingress and egress from the window may be readily permitted. Thus, it lis merely necessary to spring vup 4the awning a slight amount so that the wing sections 12 and 13 are free fromthe clips 51 and then swing inwardly the end `of Winglsections 12 and 13 so that the roof section 11 may be swung downward to the broken line position asvshown in the lower right portion in Figure 3, and it is 'removed' 'from the wall hinge 14.

In forming up the bottom mold 45, its outer endvp'ort-ion is bent up as indicated at with a radius ofthe same amount as the end portion for the two roof -sides 24 and 25 and the extreme outer end portion ofy the bottom 45 extends as a straight section 45".

vertical side panels 49 a fastener bar 53 of U-shape crosssection having short legs 53' which extend outwardly from the panel. .Metal screws 54Ysecure the panels 49 to the fastener strip 53. The heads 54 of the screws 54 are concealed within and recessed below the legs 55 `of the fastener strip 53 such that the top mold 46 may be slipped thereover so that the leg 28 thereof and its outer flange 28' receive the fastener strips 53 and conceal same. The short reaches 49 of the side louvered pieces 49 abut against the other leg 27 and the in-turned ends 27 of the mold member 46.

Still referring to Figures 6 and 7, a hinge bracket 54 of extruded aluminum which is generally U-shaped 'in cross-section with legs 55 has inwardly extending short anges 55-55 extending on the inside face of the legs and serve as stops against which the bight portion 26 of top mold 46 abuts. Suitable apertures are drilled in the legs 55 and the legs 27 and 28 of the top mold 46 to receive metal securing screws 56. Small hinges 57 are secured to the bight portion 55 of the bracket 47 as by means of rivets 53 and the other wing portion of the hinge 57 is secured to the leg 28 of side member 24 by means of metal screws 59. In this fashion the hinge-is concealed on the inside and makes for aA smart appearance as viewed in Figure 1 from the'outside as well as from the inside in Figure 2.

Reference to Figure l0 shows the corner construction of wing panel 12 between its top mold member 46` and its bottom mold member 45 and its outer end 45". The overlapping legs are secured by means of suitable screws 60 extending within suitable apertures drilled into the overlapping legs.

Referring to Figure 2, there is shown a center brace in broken line as indicated at 61 which extends in parallel relation to the end members 24 and 25 and of like shape at the outer bent portion. This center brace may be of square-shaped configuration in cross-section so as to make a rigid member and is secured to the paneling of the roof by means of metal screws. Such a brace may be necessary where the awning is of extreme length. The upper and lower ends of the center brace are aixed to the front edge member 17 and the hinge member 30.

The novel features incorporated in this awning structure result in an awning that is pleasing in appearance yet is made rugged and is quickly installed and removed. The features of construction of molding enclosing the edges of top panel and wing panels permit tailoring an awning with certain pleasing proportions of pitch of top or roof, horizontal span or distance but from building and particular wing sections to accompany a certain selected pitch of top or roof section. The make up of this awning permits the use of jigs for assembly of roof and other jigs for assembly and proportioning of wing sections in an expeditious yet uniform manner with minimum expenditure of time and material.

We claim as our invention:

1. An awning for a door or window opening in a building comprising atop and side wings attached to said top along the sides thereof, .said top comprising a panel of rectangular shape having a molding of U-shape crosssection enclosing the bottom and two side edges and an elongated hinge member attached to the top edge, said moldings and hinge member being secured together at the corners and forming a rigid support frame for the panel," said hinge member being separably attached to a hinge portion adapted to be attached to the building, said wings being generally triangular and comprised of a panel attached at its bottom and top to U-shape in cross-section moldings enclosing the edges thereof, said top molding being attached to the side molding of the top panel and brackets attachable to the building in line with the bottom molding of said wings, said brackets having an outwardly facing recess to receive said bottom molding at the rear end thereof whereby on hinging downward said top panel and the attached wings, the rear ends of said bottom moldings of the wings are frictionally received directly in the outwardly facing recess of said brackets to hold said awning from swinging outwardly.

2. An awning for a door or window opening in a building comprising a top and side wings, said top comprising a panel of rectangular shape having a molding of U-shape cross-section enclosing the bottom and two side edges and an elongated hinge member enclosing the top edge, said moldings and hinge member being secured together at the corners and forming a rigid support frame for the panel, said hinge member being separably attached to a hinge portion adapted to be attached to the building, said wings being generally triangular and comprised of a panel attached at its bottom and top to U-shape in cross-section moldings enclosing the edges of the panel, spacer brackets attached to the top molding of each wing and extending upward therefrom, hinges attaching said spacer brackets and the side moldings of said top whereby the top of the wings are spaced in parallel relation to the side moldings of the top and the wings may be hinged flat against the inner face of the top and brackets attached to the building in line with the bottom molding of said wings, said brackets having an outwardly facing recess to receive said bottom molding at the rear end thereof, whereby on hinging downward said top with the Wings hinged at right angles to the top, the rear ends of said bottom moldings of the wings are frictionally received by said brackets in the outwardly facing recess thereof to hold said awning from swinging outwardly.

3. An awning of the character described in claim 2 wherein said wings have vertically extending panel sec- 6 tions 'making up the panel, each panel section having one vertical edge offset from the rest of its panel section, said panel sections being positioned in'the moldings so that said oifset edge portion of one panel section overlaps slightly and is in spaced relation behind the adjacent edge of the next panel section.

4. In an awning an end of generally triangular shape having a bottom U-shaped in cross-section molding piece, a plurality of vertically extending panel sections having their bottom ends received in and secured to said bottom molding piece, said panel sections having one vertical edge offset from the rest of its panel section and so positioned with respect to the edge of the adjacent panel section that it overlaps slightly and is in spaced relation behind said adjacent edge of the next panel section, so as to present a stepped appearance and yet is louvered, a fastener strip being U-shaped in cross-section with short legs attached to the upper inner face of the ends of said panel sections with the legs extending away from the panel sections and securing screws securing the fastener strip to the panel sections having their heads adjacent the securing strip well confined below the ends of said legs, a top molding of U-shaped cross-section having legs, one of which has a transverse inwardly extending short flange at its outer end, said top mold being slidably received endwise over the Lupper ends of said panel sections and the securing strip with the securing strip legs being received by the leg and its transverse flange of said top mold thereby concealing the tops of the panel sections, the fastener strip and the fastener strip securing screws within the U-shaped top mold.

5. VLIn an awning an end of generally triangular shape having a bottom molding piece of U-shape in crosssection, panel means formed with steps therein and have ing a bottom end received in said bottom molding piece, said molding piece having legs with one of said legs having attached thereto a transverse flange extending toward said panel means a distance at least equal to the thickness of a leg of said molding piece to form a stiifening for the molding, and a top molding piece of U-shaped cross-section having legs, one of said last-mentioned legs having a transverse flange extending toward said panel means therein, said bottom and top molding pieces being secured together at one end to form one corner ofsaid generally triangular shaped end.

6. An awning for a door or window opening in a building comprising a top and side wings attached to said top alo-ng the sides thereof, said top comprising a panel of rectangular shape having a molding of U-shape cross-section enclosing the bottom and two side edges and an elongated top edge member attached to the top edge, said moldings and top edge member being secured together at the co-rners, said wings being generally triangular and comprisedof panel means having stepped portions therein and received along the bottom and top edge in molding pieces of U-shaped cross-section having legs, one of said last-mentioned legs of each of said molding pieces having a transverse flange extending toward said'panel means therein a distance at least equal to the thickness of a leg of said molding piece to form a stiifening for the molding, said bottom and top molding pieces of said wings being secured together at one end to form one corner of said generally triangular shaped wing.

7. An awning for a door or window opening in a building comprising in combination a top and side wings attached to said top along the sides thereof, said top cornprising a panel of rectangular shape having a molding of U-shape cross-section enclosing the-bottom and two sides and an elongated top member atached to the top edge, said moldings and top member being secured together at the corners, said side moldings of the top having one of the legs thereof formed with a transverse flange extending toward said top panel a distance at least equal to the thickness of a leg of said molding piece to form a stiifening for the molding and a space `ller between said panel, andthe legon whichi,said side a'nge is formed,rsaid wings` being generally ,triangularsand comprised of. panel means;

therein' andreceivedalongrat least the top and'bottorn edges in. molding piecesV of U-shaped ,cross-section,havingV legs, one of vsaid last-mentionedilegs of each of said molding pieces .having aftransverse ngeextending toward' said panelmeans therein adistance,atfleast'equal'to the thickness-of aleg of 'said'moldingpiece' to form a stiening for the molding anda spacel iiller between said 'panel means and the leg havingrsaidltransverse frange, said botv tom and top moldingp'ieces of 'said'wings being secured together at'portionsvthereof in adjacent spacedirelatiron to the ends ofthe bottommoldingofsaid top and in adjacent spaced relation -to' the adjacent -sidemoldingof ther top and means mountingnsaid'side wings to said top so as to position the top, moldingfpieceof each wing, in spaced receiving theside edges of theroof panel4 and meansrfor connecting each side molding of therooi panelitmaldp parallel 'relation toV the' adjacent side molding1 `of*th"etop positioned thereabove;

8; VIn an awning having a roof panel 'and side'wingsof generally triangular shape each havinga bottom molding of U-shape in cross-section, eachwing comprisingja panel formed with' steps therein yand having a bottom end.'re ceived in saidpbottom molding, `,each-molding having/twov legs with one Vof saidlegs` having attached theretofa transverse flange extending toward' said wing panel a' distance.

at leastequal'to the thickness of alegof said molding to' n form a stiffeningfor the molding, eachjwing having* a' top molding of 'Ur-shape cross-sectionhaving two legs-,fone of said last mentioned' legs'v havingya transverse ange extending towardisaid 'panel'thereim means for 'connecting the ends of themolding of "each r`wing to :forma lowerforward relatively Vnarrow vend of each-Wing; saidroof panel Icomprisingr ay pair of- Uv-shlaped side mbldirrgsffr molding offthe respective side wing vin a manner.to,pfrovif'le r a substantialA space ,for airflow betweenthe roof panel and; eachside wing.

9.` `Irran Iawning as ,set forthin claimjwhereitlife bob. tom, molding ,Y of each. Vwing, ,is extendedfifrwardly;substantiallyhoriz'ontally from the rear widerend'of'thewing andthence upwardly to its connection point tovrtherrespec'-, tive upper wing molding ttoltrrri thetnarrow. frwardfendl@ l0. Inan .awning as set orthin clin` 8-wherein the `roof panel comprises amain rectangularsectiontextending1 parallel to and substantially co-extensive with vthel top moldingsv offlthe side wings andan auxiliaryforwardendg section extendingbeyond the endfof the mairiroof;sectioln and thencealong a generally :downwardly' arcuatepath-ins, a mannery t'ofspace saidauxiliary,sectioniorwardly ofthe;

narrowforward end of the side wings.'v

ReferencesCited in the ytile oftthisr'pra'tent UNITED STATES ,BATENTS Rimmeir f JuneV 15;@19542';

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